I write the books I wish I’d read as a child.
Kids should see themselves in the books they read.
From record-breaking athletes like Venus and Serena Williams to world-changing powerhouses like Mary Bowser, Katharine Graham and Sarah Winnemucca, my books profile a new type of hero: champions of justice who stood up in the face of inequality.
WHO DID IT FIRST?
50 POLITICIANS, ACTIVISTS, AND ENTREPRENEURS WHO REVOLUTIONIZED THE WORLD
A vibrantly illustrated and compelling collection of profiles about women and men who revolutionized politics, policy, commerce and activism.
You likely know that Barack Obama was the first African American president of the United States. And you maybe you know that Sandra Day O’Connor was the first woman to serve as a Supreme Court Justice. But you might not know that Nelson Mandela was the first black president of South Africa. Or that Schuyler Bailar is the first openly transgender NCAA Division 1 swimmer.
Who Did It First? brings together all of these trailblazers into one stunning package. With both well-known figures and lesser-known heroes, this book is a celebration of the inspiring innovators who braved uncharted waters to pave the path for future generations.
Read more here.
GAME, SET, SISTERS!
THE STORY OF VENUS AND SERENA WILLIAMS
A stirring picture book biography of Venus and Serena Williams that celebrates their achievements…and their sisterhood.
This is the story of two sisters…
who took the tennis world by storm,
who achieved everything possible in the sport…and then some,
and who stood by one another through thick and thin.
Featuring illustrations by Ebony Glenn, Jay Leslie's Game, Set, Sisters! The Story of Venus and Serena Williams tells the inspirational story of two of the most beloved athletes in history. It takes us from their beginnings on a crumbling Compton tennis court to their shining achievements on the most prestigious stages and shows us that despite being served the most challenging hardships in life—illness, family, loss, racism—Venus and Serena always continued to swing back stronger.
Read more here.
EXPLORING CIVIL RIGHTS
The civil rights movement in 1965 was fraught with assassination, brutal attacks, and an attempt to deny Black Americans the right to vote. In February, Malcolm X, a Black religious leader and human rights activist, was slain. Bloody Sunday followed in March when 600 civil rights protesters attempted to walk from Selma to Montgomery, the capital of Alabama, to oppose the suppression of the Black vote. As a result, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was ultimately signed into law in August. The civil rights movement succeeded in getting legislation passed, but the fight against racism, discrimination, and hatred was far from over.
Books in this series:
Jay Leslie
Jay Leslie has always loved to write. Everywhere she goes, she carries a notebook just in case she gets a new idea - most of all, she loves to write the books that she wishes she’d had as a child.
Jay grew up in the United States, but now lives in Berlin, Germany, where she spends her time writing novels, learning new languages, and backpacking through the Schwarzwald. Who Did It First? 50 Politicians, Activists, and Revolutionized the World is her first book for children.
Her other work is available at www.Jamie-McGhee.com.
Represented by Wendi Gu of Greenburger Associates.
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